***** Exceptionally Rare Iowa 29 Star Antique American "Medallion" Flag (c.1847)

Description

***** Exceptionally Rare Iowa 29 Star Antique American "Medallion" Flag (circa 1847)
Offered is the last of our Twenty-Nine Star American Stick (or Parade) Flag printed on coarse, glazed cotton and still maintaining its original wooden staff. Flag measures approximately 7" x 10" and stick measures approximately 15" end to end.  The fact that this flag still exists, much less with the original staff is incredible as it is almost 175 years old. It owes its survival to living in an attic trunk with its mates for almost 100 years untouched. This flag is the cousin to two Flags we sold recently. This one is the LAST one we will probably ever see and available now. A transaction on another site fell through so we are offering this now.
This Flag's stars are arranged in an extremely rare and highly desirable medallion pattern with the large star in the middle being referred to as a “Center Star.” The Center Star is canted to the 11 o'clock position and represents the newest state added to the Union. In this case the Center Star represents Iowa.  Surrounding the Center Star is a pair of concentric rings of stars, and surrounding the rings are four flanking stars positioned in the corners of the canton.
The stars of this flag are pointy and folksy in their appearance, and are tightly packed onto the canton.  Although the maker of this flag is unknown, these distinctly shaped stars are common to a small family of flags that are believed to have originated from the same workshop that made six star counts in this same style: seven, thirteen, fifteen, twenty-nine, thirty-three, and thirty-five. The twenty-nine star variation is one of the rarest flags produced by this maker, and they rarely surface.
In fact, www.flags.com states the following regarding this 29 Count Star Flag:
From www.rareflags.com
Count
Statehood
Actual
Period
Actual
Duration
Official
Period
Official
Duration
Rarity
29
Iowa
Dec. 28, 1846
1 Year
153 Days
Jul. 4, 1847 -
Jul. 4, 1848
1 Year
Extremely Rare
Period flags in this star count are extremely rare.  Some printed parade flags in a medallion configuration exist in this star count, but they are very rare.  Pieced and sewn flags are even more rare.  This period spans the Mexican war (Apr. 1846 - Feb. 1848)
This Twenty-Nine star flag represents the inclusion of Iowa to the Union.  Iowa was admitted on December 28th, 1846, and this flag became official on July 4th, 1847 and remained so until until July 4th, 1848, at which time the 30 star flag became official and represented the inclusion of Wisconsin to the Union.
Twenty-nine star flags are extremely rare as they were only official for one year and they are pre-Civil War flags.  Generally speaking,
Flags made prior to the Civil War comprise less than one percent of 19th century flags that have survived into the 21st century making
flags predating the Civil War time period (1861-1865) the rarest and most desirable of all US flags.  Prior to the Civil War, Americans did not typically display flags for patriotic purposes and the military did not regularly use the flag. Smaller sized Flags like this are particularly desirable as well owing to the ease of display.
Condition
: Overall good condition but there is minor to modest soiling and pigment loss throughout, and minor fabric loss along the edges (see photos).  There is also a small separation along the lower half of the stick where the flag has begun to become detached - however, most collectors remove the flag from the staff anyway for mounting and framing purposes.  Flag also has small wear holes that attest to its continuous use over many years.  Personally, I think this is the best of the Flags we have offered as it shows its wear and age in a very refined and elegant fashion.  It will definitely attract attention wherever its displayed.
Now is your chance to acquire the last of our exceptionally rare and highly collectible American Flags and have it framed and mounted to your liking.  Mount with or without the staff - your choosing.  Flag will be carefully shipped flat, and insured for full value protection.  Don't miss out, you will be hard pressed to find another like this, and you may never have the opportunity again - especially in this condition.